Waves of Change

Liza Gonzalez, Paso Pacifico's national director, has received a scholarship from the Ocean Conservancy to attend the Fifth International Marine Debris Conference in Hawaii later this month.

Liza will represent Nicaragua at this annual symposium which brings ocean conservationists together from around the world to:

• Heighten global understanding and appreciation of the threats posed by marine debris, the cost to coastal communities and marine biodiversity, and the sources of marine debris 
• Highlight recent advances in marine debris research 
• Encourage sharing of strategies and best practices to assess, reduce, and prevent the impacts of marine debris 
• Provide an opportunity for the development of collaborative solutions to real problems, including specific bilateral or multi-country strategies 
• Emphasize the importance of individual behavioural change in preventing marine debris

Liza is well suited to represent Central American concerns at this conference. A trained ecologist, before she came to Paso Pacifico, Liza helped develop strategies for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor project and managed all of Nicaragua's national parks and protected areas. As our national director, Liza overseas beach cleanups and ocean conservation programs on both of Nicaragua's coasts.